Fatal Facts Accident Report No. 11
(Taken from Job Safety and Health Quarterly Winter 2000)
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OSHA
Office of Construction & Engineering
Accident Summary
Accident
type |
Electrocution
|
Weather |
Fair
and Cold with Wet Ground |
Type
of Operation |
Remodeling |
Crew
Size |
2 |
Collective
Bargaining? |
No |
Competent
Safety Monitor on Site? |
Yes |
Safety
and Health Program in Effect? |
No |
Was
the Work Site Inspected Regularly? |
Yes |
Training
and Education Provided? |
No |
Employee
Job Title |
Carpenter |
Age/Sex
|
33/M |
Experience
at This Type Work |
30
days |
Time
on Project |
3
days |
Brief Description
of Accident
Two employees were installing aluminum siding on a farm house when it
became necessary to remove a 36- foot- high metal pole CB antenna. One
employee stood on a metal pick board between two ladders and unfastened
the antenna at the top of the house. The other employee, who was standing
on the ground, took the antenna to lay it down in the yard. The antenna
made electrical contact with a 7,200-volt power transmission line 30 feet
10 inches from the house and 23 feet 9 inches above the ground. The employee
handling the antenna received a fatal shock, and the other employee a
minor shock.
Inspection Results
Following its investigation, OSHA issued one citation for two alleged
serious violations of its construction standards. Had these standards
been adhered to, the fatality might have been prevented.
Accident Prevention Recommendations
The employer must:
1. Note the presence of power lines and be extremely cautious when working
near them. Train employees to recognize hazards [Title 29 of the Code
of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 1926.21(b)(2)].
2. Do not permit employees to work near any part of an electrical power
circuit that might be contacted in the course of the work. Guard all electrical
power circuits against accidental contact by insulating the circuit or
de-energizing it or by other effective means that would protect the employees
(CFR 1926.400(c)(1).
Sources of Help
- OSHA General
Industry Standards [29 CFR Parts 1900-1910] and OSHA Construction Standards
[CFR Part 1926] together include all OSHA job safety and health rules
and regulations covering construction.
- OSHA-funded free
onsite consultation services. Consult your telephone directory for the
number of you local OSHA area or regional office for further assistance
and advice listed under the U.S. Labor Department or under the state
government section where states administer their own OSHA-approved safety
and health programs.
- A Guide to
Scaffold Use in the Construction Industry (OSHA 3150), Controlling
Electrical Hazards (OSHA 3075), Ground-Fault Protection on Construction
Sites (OSHA 3007), and other publications, technical information,
standards, and assistance are available online at www.osha.gov.
- Courses in construction
safety are offered by the OSHA Training Institute, 1555 Times Drive,
Des Plains, IL 60018, (847) 297-4810 and are listed on OSHA's website.
Note: The case described
here is representative of fatalities caused by improper work practices.
No special emphasis or priority is implied nor is the case necessarily a
recent occurrence. The legal aspects of the incident have been resolved
and the case closed. US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health
Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC.
This paper appears in the eLCOSH website with the permission of the author
and/or copyright holder and may not be reproduced without their consent.
eLCOSH is an information clearinghouse. eLCOSH and its sponsors are not
responsible for the accuracy of information provided on this web site,
nor for its use or misuse.
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